Click on the photo above for our weekly Seeing Stars gallery, including this photo of Lady Antebellum performing with Stevie Nicks for a CMT taping of "Crossroads" at Sony Studios Jan. 29, 2013 in California. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Music City artists had a presence this past week in New Orleans at the Super Bowl - and beyond. See our weekly Seeing Stars gallery for photos of where performers such as Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Hayden Panettiere and more were spotted in the past week.

Some traditional country music fans - and artists - are calling for Blake Shelton's head over comments that the country star made in a recent GAC TV special.

"Country music has to evolve in order to survive," Shelton said on his episode of "Backstory."

Blake Shelton performs Friday night at LP Field during the 2012 CMA Music Festival. (photo: Larry McCormack / The Tennessean)

"Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music, and I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville (are) going, 'My God, that ain’t country.' Well, that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jackass. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music that you were buying."

In addition to hundreds of user comments on the post, several country music stars weighed in on the controversy, including Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Price.

"It’s a shame that I have (spent) 63 years in this business trying to introduce music to a larger audience and to make it easier for the younger artists who are coming behind me," Price wrote on Facebook. "Every now and then some young artist will record a rock and roll type song, have a hit first time out with kids only. This is why you see stars come with a few hits only and then just fade away believing they are God’s answer to the world. This guy sounds like in his own mind that his head is so large no hat ever made will fit him. Stupidity Reigns Supreme!"

Ray Price (photo: Shauna Bittle/The Tennessean)

On Thursday, Shelton responded in a series of tweets. "Whoa!!! I heard I offended one of my all time favorite artists Ray Price by my statement “Nobody wants to listen to their grandpas music,' and probably some other things from that same interview on GAC Backstory. I hate that I upset him."

"The truth is my statement was and STILL Is about how we as the new generation of country artists have to keep re-inventing country music to keep it popular. Just EXACTLY the way Mr. Price did along (his) journey as a mainstream country artist...Pushing the boundaries with his records. “For The Goodtimes” Perfect example with the introduction of a bigger orchestrated sound in country music. It was new and awesome!!!"

"I absolutely have no doubt I could have worded it better (as always ha!), and I apologize to Mr. Price and any other heroes of mine that it may offended. I meant every word I said."

"Country music is my life and it’s future AND past is important to me. I’ll put my (love) and respect and knowledge about it up against anybody out there...ANYBODY..."

Shelton also shared words of support he'd received from friends on Twitter, including Martina McBride, who wrote, "Just catching up on this. We all know where your heart is Blake. Love you.”

Blake Shelton (Photo: Larry McCormack/The Tennessean)

"Love what you meant by your quote buddy," Chris Young wrote. "Know how much you love country music history. Love your music brother and who you are."

Before signing off Thursday night, Shelton offered a few more thoughts on all that had transpired.

"What an interesting day," he wrote. "Turns out I have a lot of friends in this industry that refuse to jump on any band wagon and turn their back on me. And a handful that have no problem doing it...Publicity can make people do and say anything I guess... Oh well. Good news for me is... I don't forget and won't forget."

Now, the fine folks at CMT have announced that rock-diva Stevie Nicks will team up with country superstar group Lady Antebellum for a pairing that can only take place in Nashville (except that it’s actually going to be filmed at the Crossroads’ stage in Los Angeles).

After more than 45 episodes, this should prove to be one of the more interesting ones. Nicks, whose work with Fleetwood Mac in the late ’70s, especially the album “Rumours,” practically sang the teenage soundtrack for late boomers. Rolling Stone dubbed her one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time,” and her subsequent solo career in the ’80s just added to her stature among rock chanteuses.

Nicks will share harmonies with one of the hottest groups in country right now. With just three albums released in its relatively brief career, Lady Antebellum already has notched seven Grammy awards and six No. 1 hits.

On Wednesday, country star Martina McBride brought her band and more than 40 extras, including 12 Special Olympians, to perform “Please Come Home for Christmas” from the “A Very Special Christmas” benefit album for the Special Olympics.

Late Wednesday afternoon, crew members began stringing up Christmas decorations on downtown buildings, including the Franklin Theatre, and elsewhere in downtown Franklin. Snow machines and a small stage were part of the production.

City spokeswoman Milissa Reierson said the crews are bringing their own decorations in addition to using the city’s.

“They are paying for our streets crew to put the garland/lights around the street poles and banners up,” Reierson said.

Jennifer Nettles, whose first child is due Nov. 29, has her fingers crossed that the baby won’t show up early — or at least not until after Saturday night.

Nettles is set to host CMA Country Christmas, a Christmas music special that will tape live in front of an audience Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena. The show will air on ABC during the holiday season.

Country music hasn’t successfully launched a reliable female hitmaker since Taylor Swift in 2006. (Photo: Invision for Target / AP)

When Mike Dungan signed new artist Kelleigh Bannen to a Capitol Records Nashville record deal, he told her he would rather be “the guy who had to go put out the oil rig fire” than to try to make it in country music as a new female solo artist.

“I looked at her, someone I like very much, and I said, ‘You realize that you’ve chosen a path that is maybe the most difficult on the planet,’ ” recalled Dungan, who is now chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville.

Indeed, country music hasn’t successfully launched a reliable female hitmaker since Taylor Swift in 2006.

The female vocalist of the year category at this week’s 46th annual Country Music Association Awards places pop star Kelly Clarkson alongside Swift, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride. The latter four are established country singers who have appeared on the genre’s radio airplay charts for multiple years and built their careers performing for country music fans.

Nashville-based pop powerhouse Clarkson lent her voice to Jason Aldean’s multi-week No. 1 duet, “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” which topped the charts in early 2011. She also charted her own country single, “Mr. Know It All” — a country cover of her pop song — this summer. The song topped out at No. 21 on Billboard’s country airplay charts.

“You can’t take anything away from Kelly Clarkson having an incredible voice,” said Bannen, who recently released debut single “Sorry on the Rocks.” “I am interested in women who are committed to our genre. I think we should be a little protective of our genre. We do things a specific way and have a very specific audience, and I am intrigued by people who are committed to what we do here.”

The Country Music Association's annual "CMA Country Christmas" concert TV special returns to Bridgestone Arena on November 3, and a slate of both country and non-country stars are once again part of the festivities.

The "CMA Country Christmas" taping is open to public, and starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 3 at Bridgestone Arena. Tickets are $50-$100 and are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office.

George Strait announced his plans for his final two-year tour "The Cowboy Rides Away Tour." In a press conference from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Strait revealed the first 21 markets he will visit during the winter and spring legs of his 2013 tour. (Photo by: Larry McCormack/The Tennessean)

In the words of one of George Strait's 85 Top 10 country singles, "This is where the cowboy rides away."

Probably.

Sort of.

Wednesday afternoon at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum - the building that houses Strait's own Hall of Fame plaque - the singer announced that he will spend 2013 and 2014 on a farewell tour, playing 40 dates in major arenas. But he will continue to make albums, to write songs, and, perhaps, to play select shows.

"As far as the touring goes, I've decided that I'm not going to tour anymore, after these next two years," said Strait, 60, who broke into the country music big-time in 1981, during Ronald Reagan's first term as president.

"Don't think I'm retiring, because I'm not," he continued. "I'm still going to make records, as long as (Universal Music Group Nashville President and CEO) Mike (Dungan) will let me. I'm going to write. If after two years, when I've quit touring, if a special event comes up that I want to do, I'm going to do it."

The tour, to be called "The Cowboy Rides Away, 2013-2014," begins Jan. 18, 2013, in Lubbock, Tex. The 2013 dates will feature Martina McBride as opening act, and there will be special guests at many of the tour stops. No Nashville date is booked for 2013, though Strait will play Knoxville on March 1 and Lexington, Ky., on March 2.

"The Tennessean" will be reporting on the event from the Opry House, but in the mean time singers ranging from Keith Urban and Reba McEntire to Bret Michaels and Diana DeGarmo have taken to Twitter to share their congratulations with the country icon.

Here’s what they said:

Diana DeGarmo ‏@DianaDeGarmo
Dear Ms. @The_LorettaLynn, congratulations on 50 fabulous years with the @Opry! You are an amazing inspiration!! #Love4Loretta

Steve Wariner ‏@stevewariner
@The_LorettaLynn Congrats on 50 years at the Opry Loretta. You are such an inspiration to everyone! Love you